Gerbera plant named ‘GLOLIP21AA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Gerbera  plant named ‘GLOLIP21AA’, characterized by its compact, broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; numerous inflorescences with pink-colored ray florets; upright and moderately strong peduncles; good garden performance and relative tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Gerbera hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘GLOLIP21AA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gerberaplant, botanically known as Gerbera hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘GLOLIP21AA’.

The new Gerbera plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new compact garden Gerbera plantswith numerous attractive inflorescences, resistant to cold temperaturesand good garden performance.

The new Gerbera plant originated from a cross-pollination during thespring of 2015 of a proprietary selection of Gerbera hybrida identifiedas code number 47180, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent witha proprietary selection of Gerbera hybrida identified as code number47275, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Gerberaplant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands during the summerof 2016 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Gerbera plant by vegetative terminalcuttings and in vitro meristem culture since the autumn of 2016 hasshown that the unique features of this new Gerbera plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Gerbera have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘GLOLIP21AA’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘GLOLIP21AA’ as a new and distinct Gerberaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Numerous inflorescences with pink-colored ray florets.    -   5. Upright and moderately strong peduncles.    -   6. Good garden performance and relative tolerance to low        temperatures.

Plants of the new Gerbera differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gerbera have larger inflorescences than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Gerbera have pink-colored ray florets        whereas plants of the female parent selection have white-colored        ray florets.

Plants of the new Gerbera differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gerbera have shorter and narrower leaves        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Gerbera have lighter pink-colored ray        florets than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Gerbera can be compared to plants of the Gerberahybrida ‘MAJLIP20AA’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application Ser.No. 17/747,743 filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plantsof the new Gerbera differ from plants of ‘MAJLIP20AA’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gerbera are not as vigorous as plants of        ‘MAJLIP20AA’.    -   2. Plants of the new Gerbera have larger leaves than plants of        ‘MAJLIP20AA’.    -   3. Plants of the new Gerbera have larger inflorescences than        plants of ‘MAJLIP20AA’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Gerbera plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Gerbera plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘GLOLIP21AA’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, TheNetherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial gardenGerbera production. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. Plants were six months oldwhen the photograph was taken and 20 weeks old when the description wastaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Gerbera hybrida ‘GLOLIP21AA’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gerbera            hybrida identified as code number 47180, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gerbera            hybrida identified as code number 47275, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings and in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, by cuttings, summer and            winter.—About 3.5 weeks at minimum temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, by tissue culture, summer and            winter.—About 2.5 to 3 weeks at minimum temperatures of 20°            C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, by cuttings, summer            and winter.—About 3.5 weeks after rooting, at temperatures            about 20° C. to 26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, by tissue culture,            summer and winter.—About five to six weeks at temperatures            about 20° C. to 26° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically white in color, actual            color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,            water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous perennial that is typically grown as            a container or garden plant; compact, broadly upright and            uniformly mounding; roughly flattened globular in shape;            numerous leaves arranged in basal rosettes; dense and bushy            habit; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on erect            and strong basal peduncles; moderately vigorous growth habit            and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 30.9            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescences.—About            48.2 cm.        -   Plant width or spread.—About 58.7 cm-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, basal, simple.        -   Length.—About 24.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 12.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate in overall outline.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Hastate and short attenuate.        -   Margin.—Coarsely and irregularly angulate to            dentate-angulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Moderately pubescent;            slightly rugose; slightly to moderately glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately to densely            pubescent, slightly rugose; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B; venation,            close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to a blend of 147B and 191B; venation, close to 145A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 11.7 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely            pubescent; slightly glossy. Strength: Moderately strong to            strong. Color, upper surface: Close to 152A; proximally,            close to 176A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C;            proximally, close to 178A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Composite inflorescence form with narrowly            oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; solitary inflorescences            borne on upright and moderately strong peduncles and held            above the foliar plane; ray and disc florets arranged            acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three months            after planting; under garden conditions in The Netherlands,            plants flower from spring to late autumn; plants can be            flowered year-round in the greenhouse.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Depending on the temperature,            inflorescences last about two to four weeks on the plant;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit with            about 24 inflorescences developing per plant during the            flowering season.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About            3.2 cm. Shape: Flattened hemispherical. Texture and luster:            Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 138C; immature ray            florets, close to 151B and 151C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 9.8 cm. Depth (height):            About 3.3 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.7 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm.            Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 157A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 320 per            inflorescence; ray florets arranged in about eight outer            whorls and two inner whorls of smaller ray florets.            Orientation: Proximally, about 40° from vertical; distally,            close to horizontal to slightly downward. Outer whorls of            ray florets: Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape:            Narrowly oblanceolate. Apex: Narrowly obtuse to shallowly            emarginate. Base: Narrowly cuneate. Margin: Entire; not            undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly carinate;            slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 52D; apical margins and apices, close to 150D. When            opening, lower surface: Slightly lighter than 150D tinged            with close to 56B and 56C. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 52D; towards the base, close to 55D and at the            base, close to 155C; venation, similar to lamina colors;            color does not change with subsequent development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 150D; towards the base,            close to 155C; venation, similar to lamina colors; color            does not change with subsequent development. Inner whorls of            ray florets: Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:            Narrowly oblanceolate. Apex: Narrowly obtuse to shallowly            emarginate. Base: Narrowly cuneate. Margin: Entire; not            undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly carinate;            slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 52D; apical margins and apices, close to 150D. When            opening, lower surface: Slightly lighter than 150D tinged            with close to 56B and 56C. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 52D; towards the base, close to 55D and at the            base, close to 155C; venation, similar to lamina colors;            color does not change with subsequent development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 150D; towards the base,            close to 155C; venation, similar to lamina colors; color            does not change with subsequent development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 200 disc            florets at center of the inflorescence arranged in about a            six-whorl spiral; disc florets do not fully develop. Length:            About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Tubular with one or            two narrow free lobes and one broader free lobe. Apex: Acute            and recurved. Base: Fused. Margin, free lobes: Entire; not            undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Color: When            opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 150C; towards            the base, close to 157D.        -   Pappus.—Quantity of hairs per floret: Numerous. Length:            About 7 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Texture and luster:            Soft; matte. Color: Close to 183D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity and arrangement: About 80 per            inflorescence arranged in about three whorls. Length: About            1.7 cm. Width (at base): About 2 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex:            Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent; matte.            Color, upper surface: Close to 143B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 138C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 47.7 cm. Diameter: Proximally,            about 7 mm; distally, about 6 mm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Angle: About 15° from vertical. Texture and luster:            Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144B;            distal end, close to 147C; proximal end, close to 176A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: To date, as disc florets do            not fully develop, stamen development has not been observed            on plants of the new Gerbera. Gynoecium (present on ray            florets): Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About            1 cm. Stigma diameter: About 0.5 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft.            Stigma color: Close to 54D. Style length: About 9.5 mm.            Style color: Close to N155A. Ovary color: Close to 155A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Gerbera.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and    pests common to Gerbera plants has not been observed on plants of    the new Gerbera grown under commercial production conditions.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Gerbera have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures ranging    from about −5° C. to about 35° C. and to be cold hardy to USDA    Hardiness Zone 7.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Gerbera plant named ‘GLOLIP21AA’ as illustrated and described. 